“Welcome back, young master”

  “Uncle Bing, why do you always do this to me?”

  “’well because I can and I want to. Do I need other reasons.” The reply sounded out from an inner room. “besides what is so wrong with being addressed that way” a man walked into the living room with an apron and wiping his hands on a rag. Anybody who saw him would have the word butler pop up in their heads.

  “Nope, you know why” Gabriel said, their regular banter pushing away some of his gloomy feelings “besides I don’t have a problem with other people addressing me as such, I just don’t want you to do it. Is that such a hard ask?” The middle-aged man-a little younger than Shi Ming’s uncle-scanned the room focusing on Gabriel before making his way to the dining table and setting himself down.

  Bing Zhao was Gabriel’s uncle and guardian, they basically went everywhere together. And it was prudent seeing as the two province's koi and Aniu-lang were not exactly side by side, even if they were in the same kingdom.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “How did it go with young master Ming” asked Zhao Bing

  “I don’t know Ming was acting awfully weird today” Gabriel dumped his rear down on one of the diner chair

  “Earlier today a letter came, after you had left with Shi Min, from Shi Min for you. He sent someone to pass it along.”

  “He didn’t tell me that, do you know what it says?”

  “Nothing I do not already know, if it concerns our present situation and if does not then it is nothing I need to know.”

  “So…. Where is the letter, I am dying to know what this is all about, he said I saved his life, can you imagine like anything could threaten him here.”

  “About that, I will give you the letter but not for now, for now I need you to be not distracted ”

  “So, the danger is real?” something in Zhao Bing’s expression answered the question for Gabriel “ and I hoped it was a prank.”

  “No, I am afraid not, has something to do with a fruit, which I presume you have eaten”

  “Yes, an apple of sorts from a place he called the sacred oasis”

  “good” Zhao Bing said already walking back into the kitchen “go upstairs, there is a bag I packed up for you see if there are any items I missed, essentials only. Then come down and eat, just the one fruit will not do; it is going to be a long night.”